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The Metro Rail will bring much relief to harried city commuters. But it’s not good news for trees, and the deer and birds that depend on them. Some 385 trees will have to be cut to build elevated and underground lines. These trees produce a total of 18,865 kgs of oxygen every year — enough to keep over 100 humans alive.

Some of the trees that will be cut include tamarind, neem and banyan — large trees that contribute to a more healthy city. They provide green cover on the median or either side of Poonamallee High Road, 100 feet road, GST road and Anna Salai.

Metro Rail officials say that it has an afforestation plan to offset the negative fallout. The corporation is planning to plant more saplings, transplant a couple of trees and then replant them after works are completed. But experts say not enough number of trees may be planted. “We have suggested that at least 10 times the number of trees lost should be planted in predetermined sites close by so that the monitoring of the saplings becomes easier,” says Shobha Menon of Nizhal, an NGO.

Experts also say that the replanting initiative seems more focused on aesthetics and landscaping rather than improving green cover. Some of the species suggested for planting are: Golden Bamboo, Kachnar, Pink Cassia, Retusa, areca palm, Royal Palm, Date Palm, Rhahis Palm and others. “Exotic trees like palm trees will only help in landscaping but won’t do much for biodiversity. In Delhi they have selected from a variety of species,” says D Narasimhan, associate professor, department of Biology, Madras Christian College.

Around 78 trees will have to be felled along Washermanpet-to-airport corridor that runs along Anna Salai. Some 307 trees will have to be felled in the Central-to-St Thomas Mount corridor along Poonamallee High Road and 100 feet road.

In the Washermanpet-toairport corridor, a majority of the trees that need to be felled are near Indian Airlines colony and on the stretch from Meenambakkam station to airport corridor. In the Central-to-St Thomas Mount corridor, many of the trees that will be felled are located in the space where Koyambedu station will come up and in the stretch from Ashok Nagar to the proposed KK Nagar metro station, said an official.

A good number of trees will have to be cut inside the campus of Poultry Research Centre in Nandanam where Metro Bhavan, station and other facilities are going to come up. The Metro headquarter will rob deer of their habitat.

Credits: TOI Chennai